Jamaat has no right to do politics

Says PM as she consoles Rajib's family

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir have no right to do politics in Bangladesh, as they believe in terrorism, not democracy.

“They don't believe in democracy. They believe in terrorism and practise politics of terrorism,” Hasina told journalists after consoling the bereaved family of slain Rajib Haidar, a blogger and activist of Shahbagh movement, at Rajib's Pallabi house.

“They don't have any right to do politics in independent Bangladesh,” Hasina said in an emotion-choked voice.

The prime minister said she would do whatever is necessary to tackle this force. “I will not let them have that right as long as I am alive. I can assure you this.”

Seeking people's cooperation to save Bangladesh from the clutches of Jamaat-Shibir, she urged all to stand beside the Shahbagh protesters. “We have expressed solidarity with the Shahbagh protesters.”

Hasina reached Rajib's tin-roof house at Palash Nagar in Pallabi at about 3:45pm and stayed there for about 20 minutes. She consoled Rajib's bereaved family members and assured them of justice.

She later told journalists that the government has taken all measures necessary to ensure security of the Shahbagh protesters.

The youths have awakened the whole nation after 1971. “Rajib's killing happened at a time when the youths have united the whole nation.”

Everyone can guess who were behind the killing, said Hasina. “But I promise that we will not spare the killers.”

Referring to Rajib's murder, Hasina said she had feared that something bad might happen. “And it finally came true.”

Blaming Jamaat-Shibir for the killing, Rajib's father Dr Nazimuddin told The Daily Star, “My son became their target, as he used to write against Jamaat-Shibir.”

Nazimuddin, a freedom fighter, demanded that Jamaat-e-Islami be banned in Bangladesh.

Locals brought out processions in the area demanding exemplary punishment to Rajib's killers.

The body of Rajib, a blogger and activist of the Shahbagh movement calling for capital punishment to all war criminals, was found with stab marks near his Pallabi house on Friday night.

Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman told ATN Bangla that Jamaat-e-Islami should be banned for the sake of security of the people and maintaining peace in the country.

“A state and a government cannot tolerate such violent and confrontational attitude [of Jamaat]. Considering the importance of maintaining peace and safety of people, such illegal and violent party should be banned,” the TV channel quoted him as saying.

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I am the last person to support any religious group but I don't like what the PM says. The Jamaat has every right to be in politics as AL or BNP and it is only people who can reject them or accept them. That is what democracy is about. Only fascism and autocracy can deny Jamaat of their democratic right.

: An Observer

It seems to me that out of ignorance or political immaturity PM Hasina is making sure that one day Jamaat will be the most dominant party in Bangladesh. Her utterance in this page is a clear indication of that. What she is saying is undemocratic and against the simple concept of peoples' democratic rights. Only an autocrat can utter things that she is publicly saying here. Those who believe in democracy may keep distance from this PM.

: S. Ahmad

Comments

Why the honorable PM didn't stop Jamaat-e-Islami's politics 16 years ago when she first came into the power? And why does she want to stop their politics now? Just to get the power once again. But now we the ordinary people know that for us Awami League and BNP are the same coin. None of them think about either Bangladesh or about the people of Bangladesh but only about themselves. Otherwise, why Rajib should die not Joy or Tarek? Do you have any answer of this question honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh? You should never understand the pain of a mother who lost not only her son but everything.

I am all for banning all religious parties in Bangladesh including Jamaat-Shibir. This is long overdue. However, the political parties and the Bangladesh government must take special interests and cares to stop all political violence especially engineered by Chatra League and Chatra Dal. In general, from the last 42 years of history, stronger the parties are stronger the violent acts are in the name of both offense and defense. There should be a zero tolerance on all political violence independent of the party in power.

Labu KhanSunday, February 17, 2013 01:17 AM GMT+06:00 (110 weeks ago)

It was only a week back, our prime minister raised concerns about the security of the Shahbagh protesters. I agreed with her and wrote a comment on that report which for some reason was not published. Hasina said she had feared that something bad might happen and it did. I fear that the war has just begun. I hope that this war over war crimes trial does not cost any more lives.

Before coming to power in 1996 Sheikh Hasina said: I will ban Jamaat if we are given power (Ittefaq headline). So far she and her party have done nothing in this regard. Instead, AL leadership have cajoled Jamaat to ascend into power. What the PM is vociferously and emotionally saying now is to gain maximum mileage from this Shahbagh Episode. Daily Star and Prothom Alo must not patronise the ruling party like this and mislead the nation and the hopes and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. Most people of Bangladesh want the trial of War Criminals, at the same time they want to see that not any particular party should reap the benefit of this uprising, after doing unprecedented corruption and such misrule.

Our Prime Minister should tell the protesters to leave Shahbagh immediately.She should not take advantage of this protest arranged and led by the common people.Her poor sighted politics led the country to such an abode of anarchy.Our people should understand that we have to meet our demand by peaceful manner.Killer of Rajib must be identified and brought to justice immediately.

Dev SahaSunday, February 17, 2013 02:01 AM GMT+06:00 (110 weeks ago)

How can we console a mother who has just lost her most precious thing?

ShamimHSunday, February 17, 2013 02:18 AM GMT+06:00 (110 weeks ago)

A religion based party violates the Constitution reason enough to dissolve not only Jamaat but all similar parties that is solely based on religion. However, Jamaat's case is far worse because they are violent; the party sided with our enemy in 1971 and is once again in a killing mission. They are perennial law breakers and still continue on this path - Bangladesh is better off without them.

No body is sure about the killers. This is a conspiracy against the state. Sk. Hasina by her declaration has exposed her inner intention of banning Jamaat before even the investigation is over. This is another issue like Sagar-Runi. The innocent youths are being used as a tool to achieve her political goal. The youth, the future of the nation are being exploited by the P.M. to divert the public anger against her misrule and series of failures in running the administration. Our future and freedom are at stake because of her selfishness and narrow mindedness. The wards of the boys should revolt against her.

It is nothing but a political trick of PM by saying Jamaat has no right to do politics. If she says Jamaat Shibir must be band that could make sense. Let Allah save us from the evil motive of our politicians.

In fact, Jamaat-e-Islami party is a Pakistan oriented party. After liberation in 1971, Awami League closed its branch in Pakistan while Jamaat-e-Islami party was banned in Bangladesh. But after 1975 General Ziaur Rahman allowed Jamaat-e-Islami party in the name of multi-party democracy. General Ershad also continued following the way of General Ziaur Rahman. During Ershad regime, Jamaat-e-Islami used its propaganda in the name of Islam to bring religious young students. Now is the time to ban Jamaat, otherwise Bangladesh will one day face the similar catastrophe which we can see in what Taliban is doing in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Dead Body politics of Bangladeshi politicians for all political grounds. PM went this home. Does she know about Bishwajit killing? Who killed Bishwajit???

S KSunday, February 17, 2013 11:31 AM GMT+06:00 (110 weeks ago)

Honorable PM's vowed utterances about no longer allowing Jamaat-Shibir to continue politics in Bangladesh has reflected the willingness of the whole nation. We will be eagerly waiting for the moment when PM's pledge will turn into reality amid banning politics of Jamaat-Shibir. If PM's promise is not fulfilled in her tenure, the people are expected to react in a befitting manner in the next polls. And if the PM can keep her promise, I am sure, people will also reply properly in the next polls. People are the owners of all power. So the people's expectations do need to be materialized.

MashiatSunday, February 17, 2013 12:15 PM GMT+06:00 (110 weeks ago)

I totally agree with the prime minister! The Jamaat-e-Islami is interrupting so many things around the whole country. I myself being an A level student am not being able to get to regular classes only because of the frequent strikes these days!!!

We should have done this soon after the liberation. But, Jamaat was rehabilitated because of general amnesty declared by the father of the nation, then by warm hand shakes by AL leader with Jamaat seeking political alliance and finally by BNP making Jamaat its partner in government. The nation must get an answer today for all these mistakes.